BBC Learning English

Video Words in the News

20 August 2014
Talking statues



Video Words in the News British Broadcasting Corporation 2014
Page 1 of 3
bbclearningenglish.com




Transcript:
Alone and aloof. Figures from history stand mute in London and Manchester.
But now, an art project hopes to breathe new life into them.
Using your phone, you scan the plaque. And then you get a call from Queen
Victoria:
"Hello, Victoria here."
The creator of the project wants people to take a fresh look at these familiar faces.

Vocabulary:
aloof
not friendly; not wanting to join in with activities with other people
mute
silent; not talking or unable to talk
to breathe new life into
to give new energy or ideas to
plaque
flat piece of metal or stone with information on it that is hung from a wall or door
or other surface
to take a fresh look
to look at or consider something again in a different way

Watch the video online: Talking statues http://bbc.in/1pZQeus



Video Words in the News British Broadcasting Corporation 2014
Page 2 of 3
bbclearningenglish.com


Exercise:
Use one of the words or phrases below to complete each of these sentences from
news reports.
Note that you may have to change the form of a word to complete the sentence
correctly.
aloof / mute / to breathe new life into / plaque / to take a fresh look

1. A federal appeals court has asked a lower district court _________ at which
claims are legitimate.

2. A _________ mounted on the front of the "Dundee Postal War Memorial"
said the capsule should be opened by the Postmaster, in the presence of the
Lord Provost, on 4 August 2014.

3. Mr Mintoff made a point of making himself accessible to ordinary people. In
public he always presented himself as a statesman but he was not distant
or _________.

4. The new clientele has helped __________ a sport that was in decline.

5. "I thought my voice had killed him, so it was better not to speak - so I
simply stopped speaking," she said. She remained _________ for five years,
but read voraciously.







Video Words in the News British Broadcasting Corporation 2014
Page 3 of 3
bbclearningenglish.com


Answers:

1. A federal appeals court has asked a lower district court to take a fresh look at
which claims are legitimate.

Source: BP wins reprieve over Gulf of Mexico payouts
http://bbc.in/1pHvTuX

2. A plaque mounted on the front of the "Dundee Postal War Memorial" said the
capsule should be opened by the Postmaster, in the presence of the Lord Provost,
on 4 August 2014.

Source: Content of WW1 Dundee posties' time capsule revealed
http://bbc.in/1tO5rm2


3. Mr Mintoff made a point of making himself accessible to ordinary people. In
public he always presented himself as a statesman but he was not distant or
aloof.

Source: Dom Mintoff: Your memories
http://bbc.in/1n56oPu


4. The new clientele has helped breathe new life into a sport that was in
decline.

Source: The young 'barefooters' making bowls cool
http://bbc.in/1peyqJY

5. "I thought my voice had killed him, so it was better not to speak - so I simply
stopped speaking," she said. She remained mute for five years, but read
voraciously.

Source: Maya Angelou 'the brightest light' says Barack Obama
http://bbc.in/1pxKC9J